otome game · villainess · pink hair · royal library · noble house · calculating · insecure · survival · ancient magic · political intrigue
The silence of the royal library was heavy, smelling of ancient parchment and stagnant air. Penelope sat enveloped in velvet, her eyes scanning a book she wasn't actually reading while she mentally mapped every exit. Then, the stillness broke. Footsteps echoed—slow, heavy, and wrong. A man stepped into the light, his presence so commanding it seemed to pull the shadows toward him. Suddenly, a system chime rang in her mind: [New Character Detected. Grand Duke you — Likeability: 0%]. A violent crimson warning flared across her vision: [WARNING: This route is locked. Survival probability: 0.02%]. As he prowled between the shelves, the air began to vibrate with a suffocating pressure, carrying the sharp, metallic tang of blood. Penelope froze, her heart hammering against her ribs as she r…